As soon as Hiccup got off of the bus, he was getting yelled at. What he can and cannot have for Reception Battalion. It was a busy day.
Then there was paperwork. So much paperwork. Medical, personal, financial records, that Hiccup had a bit of trouble filling out at first, but eventually did it. Then it was shaving time.
Hiccup was not having it but kept quiet as they were put in line. The whole process lasted about 2 to 3 hours.
"My head's cold." Was the first thing that he uttered after his hair had all but fallen to the ground. Throughout the rest of the day he was rubbing his head, expecting his hair to be right where his eyebrows were.
Then it was time for bed. They got sorted out, there were women in one barrack and men in the other. Showers were just shower heads, no privacy anywhere in the camp.
5:30 or 0530 was when they were rudely awakened. Their beds got made and they went for breakfast. Some dude almost choked on whatever sludge they were eating because he was trying to hurry. Fifteen minutes was all they got anyway. Then they got their ID cards, they got pay cards (or something I was kind of lazy with research), then their uniforms. Their regular clothes or rather 'civilian clothes' were taken and would eventually get returned.
Blood tests were done for men and pregnancy and blood tests were done for women. Muttering something sarcastic, Hiccup got his first ambush. The drill sergeant asked him his name.
"Hiccup Haddock, sir!" Hiccup yelled. The drill sergeant barked out a laugh and shook his head. Then, he got yelled at for insubordination and what-not. Very tiring stuff, Hiccup thought.
A whole process was done and then lights out.
Each day was different than the next. Vaccines: measles, mumps, diphtheria, flubicillin, rubella and smallpox. More personal things. Eyeglasses, for some people. Thankfully, Hiccup was not one of them. Photos, Yearbooks, Hiccup didn't believe the yearbook thing, but what can you do, BCT video and graduation ring. Kind of like high school actually. Then, finally, final processing before getting shipped off. Hiccup got his uniform the day before, but then he got he ID tags, cleaned the barracks, and stenciled his name on his things.
The Unit he got assigned was in Hysteria.
****On Berk****
Sage was confused.
She called Hiccup a few times and there was no answer. He also didn't come in to work, since his prom night. She tried to ask Gobber, her boss, but he didn't say anything, just sighed sadly and avoided the question.
She knew something was up, so she set out to ask someone about it.
"Hi, my name is Sage and I'll be your waitress. May I take your drinks?" She asked, politely with a shy smile.
There was a group of kids she's seen before, but since Hiccup left the sections had to be switched. Two young men, one that was stocky with black hair and was eyeing her hungrily and a gangly tall blond boy with waist-length dreads was looking…dazed.
There were two girls with them, both blonde. One looked exactly like the gangly boy with three long braids instead of dreads and a scowl on her face and one that had beautiful blue eyes, golden blonde hair in a braid that was lighter than her own honey blonde hair, and a strange expression on her face.
"Hi, Snotlout," The stocky boy winked making Sage cringe, "And I would love a tall glass of you, babe."
"Gods Snotlout! You are insufferable." The golden blonde maiden shouted suddenly. The other girl nodded.
"You are the worst. Hiccup just skipped town because of you and now your uncle is mad!"
Before Sage could speak up, the girl's male look-alike turned his glassy gaze on her.
"Tuffnut Thorsten, Snotlout Jorgensen, Astrid Hofferson, Ruffnut Thorsten, my fair Sage lady." He said, pointing to each of the members of the group. Everyone looked towards Tuffnut as he passed out on the table, then started arguing.
"Wait! Hey." Sage interrupted as Astrid stood up and cocked her fist back to punch Snotlout in the face. "Okay, so I'm just a waitress and really this is no business, but Hiccup was my friend and he hasn't been into work and I'm worried."
Ruffnut turned towards her and nodded. "He almost drowned prom night at a party and he and his friend skipped town before graduation. This moron, Snotlout, is his cousin and Stoick, his uncle and Hiccup's dad, is scary focused on finding him."
"…Oh." Sage replied after staring for a moment.
"We'd like mead, please." A half-conscious Tuffnut mumbled to which everyone agreed.
An hour later, Sage found out basically Hiccup's whole history with the group and took her break early after bringing them food.
Snotlout was flirty shamelessly with her which caused Astrid to look relieved, but Sage was horrified. Ruffnut chimed in from time to time with helpful details, albeit random and her twin brother was knocked out for the most part sleeping off a hangover/weed induced stupor only finishing Ruffnut's sentences or mumbling something about a chicken.
"So, basically, you all are horrible people," Sage bluntly spoke after processing the information. "Oh, my gods, I am so sorry. Well, I'm not, but…yeah." She tried to correct before biting her lip and swallowing her words.
Astrid offered her a fry and nodded her head. "No, you're right. We are horrible people, but I wanted to… to apologize. Well, I didn't, but now I do! I feel bad for Fishlegs, mostly, he was Hiccup's best friend before we, well, ditched him for the popular crowd."
"Picking on Hiccup was fun, but I didn't realize it was hurting him. Hiccup was fun. His explosions were…," Ruffnut trailed off.
"Explosive." Tuffnut finished for her.
"Ah, wow. I-," Sage started before looking at the other tables that were starting to fill and her coworkers were struggling.
"Yikes, I have to get to work, but I'll leave my number. Also, if you need something else just call me over."
"Bye." They chimed in before splitting the bill and leaving.
Sage and the gang talked often about Hiccup and eventually they got Fishlegs to meet them at the park which was the hangout place for stoners and outcasts. Tuffnut seemed right at home waving to a few people as Fishlegs met up with them by a picnic table.
"What?" He glared, crossing his meaty arms over his chest, but raised an eyebrow at Sage, who smiled hesitantly.
"We want to… well, you know." Astrid started off strongly, before glaring at the ground.
"No, I don't." Fishlegs quirked and eyebrow and played dumb, which Sage smiled at.
"We're-," Astrid started, before sighing.
"Sorry." The twins concluded, to which the rest nodded. Sage was still a little confused about her placed and fiddled with her loose hair.
"Okay…." Fishlegs answered, confused.
"Forgive us." Astrid barked, a little more than forcefully.
"Why? What did you do?" Fishlegs was genuinely confused, they didn't do anything wrong to him. Sage knew that as well. They didn't do anything directly to him, but they were toxic friends. Or at least Snotlout was and Astrid was just mean. The twins were kind of like loyal lost puppies who latched on and defended the person they latched on to.
"Well-we-you, Snotlout!" Astrid spoke, nudging Snotlout who seemed bored with the entire thing, but slightly guilty.
"We weren't nice…to you or Hiccup." He sighed, rolling his eyes.
"And….," Fishlegs pushed as he realized what they were sorry for.
"Taking advantage of you?" Snotlout asked, to which Fishlegs nodded, but motioned for them to go on.
"Uh. I don't know. Brother nut?" Ruffnut asked, frowning in thought.
"Nope." Tuffnut scratched his head, trying to think, but getting a headache.
"Bryn! Hiccup's friend….," Fishlegs goaded, but receiving no reaction from them. He huffed and sighed, continuing. "We were all terrible to Bryn, too. I wasn't the worst *cough* Snotlout *cough* Astrid, but I didn't speak up for them either."
"Right. Her too. We're sorry about that, too." Snotlout nodded.
Sage rolled her eyes and smiled at the patching friendship. A few minutes later, she got Fishlegs' number (for the group chat they made) and they dispersed, Ruffnut catching a ride with Fishlegs and Astrid going with Snotlout and Tuffnut, much to her repulsion.
Sage wandered around the park for a few more minutes before heading home.
She was met by her energetic siblings and sighed sadly to herself.
'Hiccup can't babysit with me if he's missing. And we'll never go on a date.' Sage thought to herself, sadly.